Fountain-pen



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

L. A. SHATTUGK.

FOUNTAIN PEN. No.403,225. Patented May14,1889.

.2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L.'A.SHATTUOK.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

Patented May 14, 1889.

WITNESSES m n. PUFFS. Fhulo-Lilhagraphnr. wun'in am 0,0.

UNITED STATES PATENT FIc LAFOREST A. SITATTUCK, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOUNTAIN-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,225, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed July 28, 1888. Serial No. 281,343. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAFOREST A. 'SHAT- TUCK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Pens; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invent-ion relates to fountain-pens; and it consists, first, in the combination, with a divisible tubular case or holder, of a tubular pen-holding, ink-stopping, and ink-feeding device, divisible or otherwise, which is reversibly and longitudinally adjustable in the case, and provided with a pen-seat, an ink-channel, an anteriorly-tapering lip or feed-bar, and a peripheral groove completing in union with the case an air-vent independent of the inkfeeding channel and pen, as will be described; second, in the combination, wit-h a divisible tubular case or holder, of a tubular pen-holding, ink-stopping, and ink-feeding device, divisible or otherwise, which is reversibly and longitudinally adjustable in the case, and provided with a pen-seat, an ink-feeding channel or channels, an anteriorly-tapering lip or feed-bar, a peripheral groove completing in union with the case an air-vent independent of the inlofeeding channel and pen, and an ink abducer or abducers, as willbe described; third, in the combination, with a divisible tubular case or holder, of apen holding, ink-stopping, and ink-feeding device, divisible or otherwise, which is reversibly and longitudinally adjustable in the case, and provided with a pen-seat, an ink feeding channel or channels, an anteriorly-tapering lip or feed-bar, a peripheral groove completing in union with the case an air-vent independent of the ink-feeding channel and pen, an ink abducer or abducers, and supple mental ink-channels penetrating to the main feed-channel, as will be described; fourth, in the combination, with a divisible case or holder, of a pen-holding, ink-stopping, and

ducer or abducers, supplemental ink-channels penetrating to the main channel, and a storage-chamber arranged within the nozzlesection of the case, as will be described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my pen with the parts as preferably arranged for an upper feed-pen. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my pen-holding, ink-stopping, and ink-feeding device as preferably formed, which I term an adjustable automatic stopper. Fig. 3 is a top View of the device shown in Fig. 2, showing the surface air-vent groove and the bilateral arms or abducers. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 2, showing the storage-chamber and the supplemental ink-channels. 4 Fig. 5 shows the stopper with the abducing arms arranged horizontally. Fig. 6 shows the stopper'divisible in two parts. Fig. 7 shows a vertical longitudinal section of the stopper when reversed in the nozzle, bring- I ing the feed-bar c and air-vent e beneath the pen and the storage-chamber hand supplemental ink-channels'zl and j on the upper side. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of my pen, taken at the line a u of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the stopper, showing the chamber 71. arranged on the upper side, the abducing-arms arranged horizontally, the air-ventlgroove 6 formed on its lower periphery, and the ink-slot 'i on the side. Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of the stopper, showing the chamber h arranged on the upper side, the air-vent groove 6 terminating in the ink-slot j, and the abducing-arms g g arranged laterally. Fig. 11 is abottom View, showing the chamber h arranged on the lower side and the ink-slot 'i bisecting the shoulder and part of one arm when said arms are arranged horizontally. Fig. 1-2 is a top'view of the stopper, showing the air-vent groove arranged on both sides, but converging upward into one groove on the top and entering the reservoir in one channel. Fig. 13 are crosssectional views of the stopper, taken at the lines at a; and o v, respectively, of Fig. 12. Fig. 1a .is a longitudinal and transverse sectional view of the stopper, showing the feedbar lip 0 made separable and secured to the stopper by friction in the groove or slot j when said groove is extended to the forward end of the body of the stopper.

A is the reservoir-section of the case. It is a hollow tube closed at one end and open at the other, which is supplied with a screwthread to receive the corresponding end of the nozzle-section of the case.

B is the nozzle-section of the case. Itisa short hollow tube open at both ends, one of which is formed to fit the open end of the res ervoiusection.

C is the adjustable automatic stopper. It is made of any suitable material, preferably of hard rubber, and of propersize and shape to fit perfectly within the bore of the nozzle-section of the case, and has sufficient frictional contact to hold it securely in place and yet permit its ready removal for purposes of cleaning. To construct this device, I take apiece of hard rubber of same size and shape as the bore of the nozzle-section and about twice as 1on Through this piece, longitudinally, I make a small central perforation, 0, for an ink-duct or feed-channel, and across the forward end I bisect the stopper into an upper and lower lip by cutting a transverse slot, a, forming a seat for the shank of the pen. This pen-slot has its upper line on the same plane as the lower side of the perforation or feed-channel 0, so that the pen when inserted forms the floor of the ink-duct extension over the back of the pen. The lower lip, 11, I cut off quite short, leaving only sufficient length to give proper support to the pen. The up per lip, c, I cut down quite thin, forming a shoulder, cl, opposite the free end of the under lip, and I gradually narrow it to a point which reaches forward nearly to the point of the pen. As thus cut away to flexibility and in close contact with the pen, it forms a longitudinally-taperi11g and transversely-convex roof to the ink-duct extension over the pen, while the pen forms its floor. As this upper lip, c, is cut away or tapered on all sides, the perforation 0 along its under surface appears as a groove and is gradually lessened until at the point it is entirely obliterated. Thus it will be seen that the upper lip, c, with the pen forms a conical-shaped inlvchannel over the pen, which gradually lessens in diameter until entirely closed by the point of the lip resting flat upon the pen near its point. This form of ink-duct favors rapid capillary action, and some ink is always retained in this narrowed ink-channel ready for instantaneous use and to keep the pen moist. Commencing at the shoulder d, I cut a longitudinal groove, 6, in the upper periphcry and carry it back far enough to extend entirely through the nozzle to the reservoir. This groove, with the upper wall of the nozzle-section lying over it, forms the air-vent, which, unlike most other fountain-pens, is entirely independent of the ink-feeding channel and pen. At its lower or external mouth it is preferably wide and flaring, but gradually narrows until it terminates in a small opening through the shoulder f at its upper end in the reservoir. This conical-shaped air-vent I consider a great advantage, as it favors the ingress of air and lessens the danger of the accidental discharge of ink through it, as the ink will naturally follow its own narrowing channel and will be prevented by air-pressure from entering the narrow internal mouth of the air-vent at the shoulder f, I may reverse the order of this air-vent groove by making the internal mouth the wide end, bringing the narrowed end at the external mouth, or the narrowed point may be arranged midway between the internal and external mouths, both of which may be made wide, giving the groove somewhat the shape of an hour-glass; but I prefer the narrow mouth at the shoulder f, so as to keep the entire airvent free, and also because I have found that within proper limits the further the air enters the reservoir beyond the ink distributing point 011 the pen the less will be the liability to blotting, the more prompt and even will be the flow of ink, and the less will be the liability of the ink containing air-bubbles. Instead of making this groove flaring at either or both ends, it may be made straight or of equal width throughout its entire length. I may arrange this air-vent groove on the lower periphery of the stopper beneath the pen by arranging the chamber h and ink-slots1 andj on the upper side, as shown in Fig. 7; but I prefer the air-vent on the upper side opposite to the chamber and ink-slots, as the air will enter with less interruption above than beneath the pen. I may form this groove on either side of the stopper in line with the penslot or on both sides. If formed on both sides, I prefer to have them converge upward into one groove forward of the storage-chamber and enter the reservoir in a single channel on top through the shoulder f, as shown in Fig. 12, the object being to construct an air-shaft independent of the ink-feeding channel by a groove or grooves formed in the periphery of atubular ink-stopper, C, which, when in position, completes the union with the nozzlesection of the case and air vent or vents.

In my application for a patent on fountainpen filed April 6, 1888, Serial No. 269,846, I provided for a peripheral air-vent groove, and therefore I do not claim such a groove specifically in this application, except when formed in a bifurcating manner with external openings on each side of the pen, but converging backward into one groove, or when formed flaring at both ends in hour-glass form, as described.

That portion of the stopper which projects into the reservoir beyond the nozzle 1 bisect on each side of the perforation 0 by cutting IIO out a longitudinal V-shaped piece, leaving two lateral arms, g g, which serve as abducers to draw the ink down from the reservoir. As will be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the space It between these arms gradually narrows toward the body of the stopper, and thus maintains a steady capillary attraction. I have also discovered that two ink-abducing arms or bars thus arranged with respect to each other have a more certain action in attracting the ink than a greater or less number of bars extending into the reservoir. It will be observed that these arms, viewed outwardly and longitudinally, are not flaring, and diverge only with respect to their inner or opposing surfaces, which may be, if preferred, formed parallel to each other like their outer surfaces. These abducing-arms may be arranged horizontally, as shown in Fig. 9, instead of laterally, as shown in Fig. 2. At the base of the arms g g, even with the inner end of the nozzle, Iform a shoulder, f,by cutting the arms down nearly to the central perforation, and it is through this shoulder that the inner end of the air-vent groove is cut. The abducing-arms, being thus arranged on the lower side of the reservoir when in use, tend to keep the current of ink between them and favor the onward passage of air-bubbles from the inner mouth of the air-vent, so that at no point shall there be an undue interruption of air-supply to cause skipping. Instead of making the shoulder f square, as in Fig. 3, I may make it sloping by a gradual curve, as shown in Fig. 2.

At about the central portion of the body of the stopper, just back of the inner end of the pen-slot a, I cut a mortise, 71, about one-third of an inch long, penetrating to the central perforation or ink-duct, o. This is the storagechamber, which is entirely within the nozzlesection of the case. The object of this chamber is to bring a considerable body of ink forward beyond the entrance of air into the reservoir, so that the immediate supply of ink to the pen will not be mixed with air-bubbles, which make it frothy-a frequent cause of skipping in those fountain-pens which have a common air and ink channel, or where the immediate supply of ink at the heel of the pen is subjected to the influence of air passing through it atthat point, as is peculiar to those pens in which the ink is sustained mainly by atmospheric pressure.

If preferred, the stopper may be constructed without employing the chamber 72; but I pre fer it, as with most grades of ink it is of the greatest advantage to have a supply of ink forward of the point where the air enters the reservoir, ready for instant use to avoid skip- P1110.

O n the lower side of the body of the stopper, and at the inner end, midway between the base of the arms g g, I cut a longitudinal slot or supplemental ink-channel, 2', penetrating to the central perforation, 0, and carried forward to the storage-chamber h.

The obj ect of this is to favor an uninterrupted flow of ink into the chamber, and to permit the rapid emptying of the chamber of ink when the nozzle is raised to unscrew for removal. If the abducing-arms are arranged horizontally, this supplemental ink-channel i should extend through a portion of the lower abducer, bisecting it from the storage-chamber to a point beyond the inner end of the nozzlesection of the case, as shown in Fig. 11, vor this channel may be out on the side, as shown in Fig. 9.

At the forward end of the chamber h another ink-slot or supplementary channel, j, is cut on the upper side, penetrating in like manner to the central ink-duct, 0, and is carried far enough forward to intercept the penslot a, but not on the same plane, it being longitudinal, while the pen-slot is transverse. The object of this is to increase the capillary ink-surface from the chamber h to the heel of the pen, so that a free flow of ink may be maintained, and to permit the escape of air in the ink-duct over the pen when first filling with ink. It also secures a quicker response to the first stroke of the pen in writing.

Taken all together, this improved ink-stopper and feeding-piece is very simple in construction, and all its parts are so nicely adj usted that the common faults of blotting, skipping, indefinite and irregular action, and liability to finger-staining from leaking or superfluous ink, which are peculiar to fountainpens wherein the ink is held mainly by atmosph eric pressure, are entirely avoided. Another advantage of this stopper is that it can be readily removed for purposes of cleaning or for adjusting a different pen. As it is longitudinally and reversibly adjustable in the case it may be reversed in the nozzle, so that the lip 0 will lie under the pen, forming an under feed, as shown in Fig. 7.

In adjusting the stopper in the nozzle the under lip, b, and the shoulder cl do not come out flush with the free end of the nozzle-section, leaving at the open mouth of the nozzle a recess, m, which serves as a shield to protect the fingers from any accidental discharge of ink at the mouth of the air-vent.

In operation the arms or abduce'rs g g draw the ink down from the reservoir, whence it continues by capillary attraction between them in he narrowing space 71; and between the walls of the ink-slot 1' and ink-channel 0 to the storage-chamber h, which remains full all the time when the pen is held down.

From the chamber h the ink continues through the channel 0 and ink-slot j to the heel of the pen, and thence through the extension of the ink-channel 0 over the back of the pen to nearly its point, where it is imprisoned by the sides and point of the upper lip, c,bearing upon the pen, and is prevented from incontinent discharge by a partial vac- IIO uum at the inner end of the reservoir aided by a mechanical stopper at the nozzle end. With each downward stroke of the pen the ink-channel over the pen is opened by the separation of the nibs of the pen and the ink flows upon the pen-point. The air to compensate for expended ink, entering through an independent passage and carried into the reservoir so far above the immediate ink-supply in the storage-chamber, does not cause a rush of ink upon the pen and the consequent blotting peculiar to those fountain-pens where the air and ink meet at the heel of the pen or below it. A somewhat easier method may be pursued in constructing the stopper. Instead of making the central perforation, o, the ink-channel may be secured in the following manner: Across the forward end of a solid piece of hard rubber of the right size to fit into the nozzle the transverse pen-slot a is made a little below its central transverse axis. Then on the lower side of the body of the feeder, commencing at its inner end, I cut a deep groove penetrating to its central perpendicular axis and carried forward to just beyond the inner end of the pen-slot. The chamber 71 which is constructed the same as shown in Figs. 2 and i, divides this groove-like inkchannel at about its center into two channels similar to the ink-slots or supplementary channels "6 and j shown in Fig. 4. In every other respect the stopper is constructed the same as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and at, with the exception that the pen-surface of the upper lip or feed-bar, c, is flat, or nearly so, and has a greater surface in actual contact with the back of the pen. The stopper may be divided in two parts, as shown in Fig. 0, by bisecting it through or below its chambersection. This leaves a shelf orbridge, w,projecting over the chamber 71, thus conducting the air beyond the immediate supply of ink at the heel of the pen. The abducing-see tion, which has been separated, I refer to in Fig. 6 as C. In thisdivisible stopper either part may be reversed in the nozzle independent of its fellow, and,if desired, the outer section may be employed alone.

The stopper may be formed with the feedbar lip 0 made separable, if desired, as shown in Fig. 14:. In this case I arrange the capillary slots or grooves i and the storage-chamber h on the upper side, and I extend the slot or groove forward to the front end of the body of the stopper, and into the front end of this groove I fit a thin flexible bar corresponding in shape to the lip c, the same as shown in my application for fountain-pen filed April (5, 1888, with this difference: In the present case I leave beneath the bar a space for an ink-passage corresponding to the passage 0.

D is the pen, preferably made of gold, and may be curved or flat. Its shank is of the right thickness to fit firmly in the slot (t and of sufficient width to engage the walls of the nozzle, so as to be held firmly in position by friction.

E is the pen-shielding cap, open at one end, which fits either end of the case or holder.

It will be seen that I apply an entirely new principle in my pen-viz, the combination, in a fountain-pen wherein the ink is mainly sustained by a vacuum at the upper end of the reservoir, aided by a mechanical stopper in the lower end, of a central channel through said stopper for an ink-passage only and a feed-bar extension arranged to convey ink over the back of the pen, with an air-vent separate and distinct from the ink-passage to a point a considerable distance beyond the pen and lower ink-chamber.

In all other top-feed pens having an airvent the ink is supported mainly by atmospheric pressure at or near the mouth of the air-vent, which is generally beneath the pen, and to which principle I attribute the faulty action of such pens.

I do not claim the air-vent groove when applied to a solid barin cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, or prismatic form lying between the pen and wall of the nozzle, as in some known methods of con struetion; but I claim as peculiar] y my own the adaptation of the peripheral groove for air-vent purposes to a device having a tubular body fitting the bore of the nozzle and forming a combined pen-seat and ink-stopper. The ink passage is directly through it and not around it, as in methods of construction of solid feed-bars, where the groove is employed for air-vent purposes. My stopper further differs from such feed-bars by being adjustable longitudinally and reversibly and by the possibility of locating the airvent groove at any point in its circumference, which I consider a great advantage, as thereby the pen can be better adapted to suit diiferent grades of ink, especially in those fountainpens wherein atmospheric pressure is not the chief factor in supporting the ink. My automatic ink-stopper also differs widely from ordinary tubular pen seats having feedbar extensions, as in such constructions the ink and air pass through one and the same passage at the heel of the pen, with the open mouth of the air-vent immediately beneath the pen. In such pens and in those where the air-inlet is wholly through the ink-passage nothing but uneven air-pressure prevents the incontinent escape of ink, whereas in my special construction of pens, the air-passage being over the pen and separate from the inkpassage for a considerable distance beyond. the heel of the pen, the ink is held by a different and more reliable principle and is conveyed to the pen much more evenly and without the danger of blotting peculiar to those pens constructed upon the opposite principle of air-pressure.

I claim- 1. In a fountain-pen, the combination, with the divisible case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, which is provided with the pen-seat a the central inkduct, 0, the lip or feed-bar c in contact with the pen, and the peripheral air-vent groove 6, independent of the ink-feeding channel and pen, substantially as described.

2. In a fountain-pen, the combination, with the divisible case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c in contact with the pen, pen-seat a, the bilateral arms or ink-abducers g g, the capillary space it, the peripheral groove 6, completing, in union with the case, an air-vent, and

an ink-feeding channel or channels, substantially as described.

3. In a fountain-pen, the combination, with the divisible tubular case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c in contact with the pen, the pen-seat a, the peripheral air-vent groove e, independent of the ink-feeding channel and pen, the central ink-feeding channel, 0, and one or more supplementary channels, substantially as described.

4. In a fountain-pen, the combination,with the divisible case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c in contact at its sides and point with the back of the pen, and the pen-seat a, the central ink-feedin g channel, 0, the supplementary channels t and j, the storage-chamber h, the bilateral arms or ink-abducers g g, the capillary space is, the recess m, and the peripheral air-vent groove 6, independent of and arranged above the ink-feeding channel and pen, substantially as described.

5.. In a fountain-pen, the combination,with the divisible case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c resting flat upon the back of the pen, the ink-feeding channel 0, the pen-seat a, the supplementary channels 1' and j, the storagechamber h, the bilateral ink-abducers g g, the capillary space It, and the peripheral air-vent groove 6, independent of and arranged above the ink-feeding channel and pen, substantially as described.

6. In a fountain-pen, the combination, with the divisible tubular case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c in contact with and extending over the pen to its point, the pen-seat a, the ink feeding channel 0, the supplementary channelst' and j, and chamber h, arranged on the upper side, the bilateral arms g g, the capillary space It, and the peripheral air-vent groove 6, independent of and arranged below the ink-feeding channel and pen, substantially as described.

7. In afountain-pen, the combination, with the divisible case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c in contact with and extending over the pen to its point, the pen-seat a, the ink-feeding channel 0, the supplemental channels 1' and j, the storage-chamber h, the bilateral ink-abducers g g, the capillary space It, and the peripheral air-vent groove e, outwardly independent of and arranged either above or below the ink-feeding channel and pen terminating in the storage-chamber, substantially as described.

8. In a fountain-pen, the combinatio'mwith the divisible case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper 0, having the lip c in contact with and extending under the pen, the pen-seat a, the ink-feeding channel 0, the supplemental ink-channels t and j, and the chamber h, arranged on the upper side, the bilateral arms g g, the capillary space 70, and the peripheral groove 6, completing in union with the case an air-vent independent of and arranged below the ink-feeding channel and pen, substantially as described.

9. In a fountain-pen, the combination, with the case A B and the pen D, of the adjustable automatic stopper divisible in two parts, as C 0, having the anterior lip c in contact with the pen, the pen-seat a, the ink-channel 0, the supplementary channels t' and j, the storage-chamber h, the shelf to, the peripheral air-vent groove e, and the integral ink-abducing arms 9' g, extending into the reservoir, substantially as described.

10. A fountain-pen provided with a stopper, as C, fitting the bore of the nozzle and having an ink-passage through it, and a bifurcated peripheral groove, as e, completing in union with the case an air-vent independent of the ink-passage to a point in rear of the heel of the pen, substantially as described.

11. A fountain-pen provided with a stopper fitting the bore of the nozzle and having an ink-passage through it, a peripheral airvent groove, as 6, independent of the inkpassage, a forward extension for a feed-bar, as c, a rear double-armed extension, as g g, and a reduced section, as at h, substantially as described.

12. A fountain-pen provided with a tubular ink-stopper, as 0, having two integral ink-abducing arms, as g g, separated by a tapering space, as 7c, substantially as described.

13. An ink-stopper for fountain-pens, forming a combined automatic stopper and penseat of a diameter equal to that of the bore of the nozzle, and having a peripheral groove, as e, for air-vent purposes only, and a separate channel for an ink-passage, independent of the air-passage, to a point in rear of the heel of the pen, a pen-seat slot, and a reduced sec tion for a storage-chamber, for the purpose and substantially as described.

14. In a fountain-pen, the tubular stopper transversely divisible in. two parts, as C 0', having two integral horizontally-arranged ink-abducing arms, as g g, extending into the reservoir, substantially as described.

15. An ink-stopper for fountain-pens, as 0, having a section of its body cutaway to form a semi-cylindrical storage-chamber, as h, within the upper end of the nozzle, and having a semi-cylindrical bridge or shelf, as w, extending across said chamber to convey air by means of the groove c, formed in said shelf,

independent and to a point in rear of the storage-chamber, substantially as and for the purposes described.

It. A fountain-pen provided with an inkstorage chamber, as 7L, within the nozzle-section and an air-vent, as e, which is independent of the ll1] -I)LSS2Lg6, to a pointbackward of the chamber, substantially as described.

17. In a fountain-pen wherein the ink is prevented from descending too freely by an automatic stopper, as O, closely fitting the bore of the nozzle, aided bya partial vacuum at the upper end of the reservoir, the bifurcated air-vent groove, as 6, formed in the periphery of the stopper, said groove forming with the wall of the nozzle lying over it an air-vent separate and distinct from the inkpassage to a point entering directly into the reservoir section of the case, substantially as described.

18. In a fountain-pen wherein the ink is prevented from descending too freely by a stopper closely fitting the bore of the nozzle, as (J, aided by a partial vacuum at the upper end of the reservoir, a feed-bar arranged to convey ink from the stopper over the back of the pen to its point, as c, and a peripheral groove, as e, completing in union with the nozzle-section of the case an air-vent independent of the ink-passage to a point in rear of the heel of the pen, substantially described.

19. In a fountain pen, the bifurcated groove 6 cut in the periphery of the stopper, said groove having two external months arranged at the sides of the pen in line with the pen-slot, but converging upward and backward into one groove on the upper side and entering the reservoir by one internal mouth, substantially as shown, and for the purposes described.

20. The fountain-pen provided with an airpassage, said air-passage having two external months or openings and but one internal mouth or opening, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAFOREST A. SHATTUOK.

lVitnesses:

LIZZIE CARNNALL, Ms. S. WILLIAMS. 

